Diverging from the FIA, the FIM’s Board of Directors agreed at its most recent meeting to uphold the ban on riders, teams, and officials from Russia and Belarus.

The FIM implemented a much stricter policy than its automotive counterpart on March 5, 2022, two weeks after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, that forbade all Russian and Belarusian competitors no matter their views. The FIA’s rule, which was introduced the day prior, wasn’t as strict since it affirmed the affected drivers could race under FIA jurisdiction as long as they agreed to condemn the war and switch nationalities (either to another country or as an “Authorised Neutral Athlete”).

In August, the World Motor Sport Council lifted the FIA’s ban. The only remaining stipulation is that FIA-sanctioned races can’t be held in Belarus or Russia, while auto racers from either country are now able to take part under their respective flags. This has sparked significant backlash, with several European ASNs stating they would continue to bar drivers from those nations while the Automobile Federation of Ukraine submitted an appeal to the FIA presidency.

The FIM Board of Directors met over the weekend in Agadir, Morocco, ahead of the Rallye du Maroc. It was the board’s third meeting of 2026 after doing so in February and May; the war was discussed at the first and latest, with the same verdict in both.

“The Board of Directors reiterated its sympathy and solidarity with all those suffering, as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine,” reads an FIM statement. It is identical to what was said following February’s meeting.

“After having carefully considered the situation, the Board once again confirmed the decisions made during its extraordinary meeting on 5 March 2022. One of the consequences of these decisions is that no Russian and Belarusian riders, teams and officials can participate in FIM events and activities (FIM World Championships and FIM Prize Events) until further notice. The FIM will continue to monitor the evolution of the situation, taking into account the specificity of motorcycle sport.”

With the FIM continuing the restrictions versus the FIA dropping them, the World Rally-Raid Championship—which is overseen by both authorities—is in the unusual position where Russian and Belarusian drivers can represent their nations while Russian and Belarusian bike and quad riders can’t show up.

Andrei Halabarodzka, who used a Kyrgyz license during the FIA’s ban, ran the Bajas Aragón and TT Sharish Gin earlier in September under the flag of Belarus. He is the first cross-country rally driver to use the green-and-red bicolor since the 2022 Dakar Rally.

Featured image credit: Natalia Konovalova